Drying machine



. 1,471,803 B. A. PARKES A DRYING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /NvE/vToR';

Barham BY f Y Aro uw wh I( Patented @et 23, 1923.

eine

BERTRAND A. PARKES, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE PHILADELPHIA DRYING- MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- .VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DRYING MACHINE.

Application filed October 25, 1920. Serial No. 419,199.

T o all whom t may cof/mera Be it known that I, BERTRAND A. PARKES,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying Machines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to drying machines of the type more especially adapted for drying textile fabrics in strip form.

The invention is directed to a drying machine of which the enclosure is spanned by a horizontal diaphragm to form two subdivisions through Which the materials are successively progressed; together with means for propelling t-he drying medium in one direction through one of the subdivisions, and in the opposite direction in the other, in order to approach the materials first from one side and then from the other in the course of the treatment, the object of such an arrangement being to promote greater uniformity in drying.

The invention is also directed in part to gauging means, through the aid of which, a number of fabric strips at a time may be maintained in proper spaced relation during progression through the machine,'said gauging means being provided with several sets of differently spaced, gauge fingers which may be selectively brought into active position to accommodate as many varied widths of fabric strips.

The invention also includes certain other novel details of construction and arrangement which will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.

In the drawings, Fig. I, is an illustration, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of a drying machine conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. II, is a cross sectional view of the same as viewed in the direction ofthe arrows II-II in Fig. I; and

Fig. III, is a perspective view of a portion of one of the gauging devices employed for adapting the machine for drying fabric strips of various widths.

As herein represented, the structure comprises an enclosure 1, which is internally so arranged', as best seen in Fig. II, as to provide a longitudinal main chamber. 2, which is ianked at its sides, by co-eXtensive auxiliary spaces 3 and 4, respectively. The main chamber is spanned midway of its height, by ahorizontal diaphragm 5, to establish two rela-tively superimposed subdivisions 6 and 7. The materials to be dried are first passed over a guide roll 8, at the right hand, or feeding end of the machine, thence successively through the subdivisions 6 and 7, and after finally emerging from the interior of the structure, are transferred to the guidance of a roll 9. From this point on, the materials are directed to an appropriate folding mechanism comprehensively indicated at 10. This mechanism forms no part of the present invention and further detailed description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary. Within the enclosure, the materials are guided back and forth over a series of rolls 11 and 12, respectively disposed at its opposite ends. Intermediate these rolls, support is afforded by cross bars 13. The rolls 1l, are intergeared as shown in Fig. I, and driven by an appropriate driving system comprehensively indicated at 15. The rolls 1Q, at the opposite end of the machine, may be similarly intergeared and driven by means of a belt 16, from an overhead shaft 17, which is in turn c-o-ordinated with the driving system l5, previously referred to, by a belt.

Referring once more to Fig. II, it will be noted that the upper subdivision 6, of the main-chamber is separated from the auxiliary space 4, by a vertical partition 18, which runs the full length of the structure and is provided with a number of openings within which operate rotary fans 19-19. These fans are mounted upon shafts 20, which pass to the exterior of the enclosure to afford attachment for appropriate driving means. The bearings 21-21, through which the shafts 20, are journaled are located within ducts 22, which are communicative with the exterior so that the bearings may in this way be protected from the heat from within the structure. Under the actuation of the fans 19-19, the air is blown laterally through the upper subdivision 6, and by way of the auxiliary space 3, passes to the under side of the dividing diaphragm 5, and flows in the opposite direction through the subdivision 7, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. Il. Following these arrows further on, it will be seen. that the return tothe suction side of the fan is effected through the auxiliary space 4, so that the yair is continuously circulated in this iman-- ner. By reversing the direction ofhrotation of the fans 19-19, it will be obvious that circulation may be effected in a direction opposite to that shown by said arrows. ln either event, the materials under treatment will be approached bythe drying medium lirst from one side, and then to the other, as a consequence of which, greater uniformity of drying is secured.

For the purpose of moderating the atmosphere within the enclosure, ll have provided in the" auxiliary space 4, a bank of heating coils 25, which is preferably located 'directly within the air circuit, and by virtue of such disposal, these coils become further functional in breaking up the iow into a number of currents thereby eecting thorough distribution and dissipation of the same. llf desired, a secondary bank of heating coils, as shown at 26. may be located in the auxiliary space 3, such coils acting as boosters to the main bank 25, in the space 4.

ln order that the machinel may be employed for the drying of several strips of textile material at a time,l have provided ay number of gauging devices 30, which are located at various points, within the structure and preferably adjacent the supportingl rolls 11 and 12.' These devices are all of similar construction and each comprises a rod 31,' which extends transversely of the direction of movement of the materials, and is supported in any convenient manner by the skeleton framework of 4the structure. Mounted upon the rod 31, are a number of sets of guide fingers 32, which are so arranged as to be individually adjustable by means of set screws 33, or other equivalents.. rlhe severai sets of the guide fingers are disposed at various angles about the rod 31, and the individual fingers are respectively arranged at different intervals. By turning the rod, one or the other of these various sets'4 may be broughtv in'to the'vertical or active position. l rlhis may be accomplished from the exterior by means of a handle 35, provided for the purpose. By this arrangement, the machine may be readily adapted for drying fabric strips of various widths without the necessity of any rearrangingof the interior, such strips being thus maintained properly spaced against any possibility of relative interference throughout the treating process.

Having thus' described my invention, l

` claim:

1. In a drying machine, the combination of an enclosure ,a horizontal diaphragm extending across said enclosure; means for progressing materials in contiguous strips azi-visos successively through the twosubdivisions of the enclosure thus formed; and means for propelling the drying medium in one direction through-one of said subdivisions, and in the opposite direction in the other.

2. ln a drying machine, the combination of an enclosure internally'arranged to providea main chamber, and an auxiliary, space at each side of the main chamber; a horizontal diaphragm extending across the main chamber from one space to the other; means for progressing the materialsin contiguous stripsjsuccessively through the two subdivisions of the main chamber thus formed; andmean-s for propelling the drying medium through said subdivisions over a circuit completed by the auxiliary side spaces. ,j

3. ln a drying machine, the combination of an enclosure internally arranged to provide a main chamber, and an auxiliary space at eachside of the main chamber; a horizontal diaphragm spanning said main chamber; meansfor progressingthe materials to be dried successively through the two subdivisions of the main chamber thus formed; and means for propelling the drying medium through said subdivisions over eov a circuit completed by the auxiliary side spaces; and heating devices located Iin the auxiliary side spaces within the ield of the air circulation. v

4. lln a dryingl machine,` the combination of an enclosure internally arranged to provide a main chamber, and an auxiliary space at each side of the main chamber.; a horizontal diaphragm spanning said main chamber; mean-s for progressing the ma.- terials to be dried successively through the two subdivisions of the main chamber thus formed; a vertical partition separating one of said subdivisions from the auxiliary space at one side of the structure; and a series of rotary fans dispo-sed in openings in the said partition and functional in propelling the drying medium through the said subdivisions over circuits completed by the auxiliary side spaces.

5. ln a.drying machine, the combination of an enclosure; means for progressing materials in strip form through the enclosure; and means for maintaining the strip-s in spaced relation, said means comprising a rod extending transversely of the path of movement of the materials, and provided with a number of adjustable gauge fingers. y

6. lln a drying machine, the combination of an enclosure; means for progressing materials in stripy form through the enclosure; and means for maintaining strips of various widths in spaced relation, said means com'- prising a rod extending transversely of the path of movement of the materials, and provided with several sets of differently spaced, adjustable gauge fingers disposed in different angular planes about said rod, and which may be selective-ly brought to active positions by turning the latter.

7. In a drying machine, the combination of an enclosure j means for progressing materials in strip form through the enclosure; and means for maintaining strips f various widths in spaced relation, said meansc0mprising a rod extending transversely of the path of movement of the materials, and provided with several sets of different-ly spaced, adjustable gauge fingers dis osed in different angular planes about sai rod, and which may be selectively brought into active position-s by turning the latter; and means whereby said rod may be actuated from the exterior of the enclosure.

8. Ina drying machine, the combination of an enclosure; supporting rolls located .at the ends of the enclosure and over which the materials in strip form, are guided back v and forth during progression through the machine; a number of gauging devices disposed adjacent said supporting roll-s, for maintaining strips of various widths in spaced relation, each of said devices comprising a rod extending transversely of the path of the movement of the materials, and

provided withl l:several sets of differently spaced,.gauge fingers disposed in different angular planes 4about said rod, and which may be selectively brought into active .po l

sitions by turning the` latter.

9. In a. drying. machine, the combination of an enclosure,'means to guide a strip of material to be d i-ied through said enclosure in an undulatory path describing a lurality of horizontal stretches, .the edges o the material being spaced from-the sides of the enclosure, a horizontal partition in said enclosure disposed between intermediate pairs of stretches defining upper and lower compartments in connnunication at the edges of said partition and means to direct a current of air through one compartment across the direction of travel of the material whereby it'may be returned through the lower compartment in a ,reverse direction.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- Vania, this 22nd day of October, `1920.

BERTRAND A. PARKES.

Witnesses JAMES H. BELL, E. 'L FuLmRroN, 

